Football: House leads Westfield over Immaculata

SOMERVILLE – How does a team win 32 straight games?

Westfield High School’s football team gave an example in Friday night’s 23-6 win over Immaculata at Brooks Field in Somerville. One of the Blue Devils’ strengths in this run has been depth – skilled, talented depth.

The two-time defending North 2 V champs (7-0) showed it in the wake of injuries that would derail most teams.  Senior halfback Juandre House reestablished himself as the main man in the Blue Devils’ backfield.  He ran for 233 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries. Sophomore back Tim Alliegro, who has run for 565 yards and six TDs this season, was dressed, but didn’t play, resting a right knee injury suffered in the second quarter of a 13-6 victory over Elizabeth a week ago Saturday.

It was 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior Jake Vall-Llobera who filled the void in that game, scoring both touchdowns to help rally the Blue Devils at High Point Solutions Stadium at Rutgers University.

This week it was House’s turn. He was productive from the start, opening the scoring on a 14-yard TD run in the first quarter.

“Juandre had a great week of practice and it showed it tonight,” Westfield coach Jim DeSarno said. “He worked really hard during the week and I thought we did great job tonight up front, and when he’s in space he’s dangerous. He knew he was going to get the boatload of carries and took advantage.”

MORE: BALANCED BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN TOPS FRANKLIN

READ: BUSHER TO HONTHY IN FINAL SECONDS SENDS UNDEFEATED NORTH HUNTERDONOVER HILLSBOROUGH

FOOTBALL: MID-STATE 37 WEEK 7 ROUNDUP

MEDIA BLITZ: WEEK 7 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FRENZY

So did a slightly altered offensive line.

Senior Jack McCauley, usually the center, was moved to right tackle since regular senior starter Jordan Barham was out. Senior Russell Weber – something of a utility lineman - came in to start at center. Junior Declan McCauley played left tackle, Alliegro’s brother, senior Fran Alliegro, was at left guard and senior Isaac Montez played right guard.

“We take a lot of pride in going hard at the defense during practice,” said Weber, who got some time at center during the preseason.

He apparently didn’t forget how to play the position.

“Russell Weber stepped up big for us tonight,” said House.

House and Alliegro haven’t spent much time on the field together since House or Alliegro have been hurt at different times, House was the No. 1 man in the season-opening win over Linden in a game he shared carries with Alliegro. But House missed game two with Ridge and Alliegro began taking advantage of his opportunity. House also missed the Franklin game with injury, but Alliegro sustained his success and the Blue Devils’ state-leading winning streak has lengthened.

“I’ve said this over and over, this a different group, this is a different team, this is a different group of seniors, this is their team,” said DeSarno. “The other really three teams were all different in different ways. This is their season. We worry about seasons. We can’t worry about streaks. If the kids worry about that we will lose sight of what’s in front of us. It’s just nice to win this one.”

Vall-Llobera scored the second TD of the game on a short run in the second quarter and sophomore quarterback Henry Shapiro connected with Steve Barden on a 20-yard TD pass in the third quarter and Aidan Borland’s point after made it 21-0. Nate Barnett cut the deficit to 21-6 on a 5-yard run in the fourth quarter. But a safety was earned by Westfield later in the period, making it 23-6.

Westfield has a bye week before playing host to Scotch Plains-Fanwood Nov. 4. Immaculata (4-3) is at Montgomery Friday night.